DJIBOUTI

09.16.2017

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti –Seventeen Sailors forward deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and its 22 tenant commands were promoted to chief petty officer during a pinning ceremony at 11 Degrees North on Sept. 16.

“It’s a very proud moment to see the selects take that next step in their careers, achieving the milestone and watching them grow,” said Master Chief Petty Officer William Travis, Command Master Chief of Camp Lemonnier. “When the selects are pinned, that’s not the end of the process. It’s continually learning and growing every day. We’re constantly evolving.”

For those who received the news of advancement, it was a life-changing experience.

“I got the call and I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Francisco Valentin Vega, fuels management specialist for Logistics Department, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. “It was a mix of feelings and a relief that all of the hard work has paid off. It made me feel proud and all I could think about was my family and all they have scarified in supporting me.”

“The day the results were released it seemed like forever before I found out if I was selected,” said Chief Legalman Jeneice Annunziato, Camp Lemonnier command legalman. “The commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief visited my workspace to give me the good news. The entire room lit up as they congratulated me. It’s a feeling I will never forget.”

In order to be selected for advancement to chief petty officer, Sailors must first meet several requirements. First class petty officers must pass their rating advancement exams with the required final multiple score to be eligible for the board process. A selection board consisting of master chief petty officers and senior officers convenes annually to review all candidates and choose the best-qualified Sailors based upon the available promotion quotas for each rating. Some attributes the selection board looks for in candidates include leadership experience, sustained performance, diversity in tours and duties, special qualifications, education and a variety of substantial collateral duties.

Upon being notified of selection, Sailors go through an indoctrination known as “chief season.”

“The chief season process teaches humility,” said Travis. “The goal of the process is not to humiliate but to humble. Enjoy the process because you can have fun with it. It teaches you have to handle the stress, delegate and utilize resources. Each task has an underlined meaning, purpose and lesson.”

“It’s the process to help the chief selectee make the transition for a first class petty officer to chief petty officer. When you make chief petty officer, it’s not about you anymore. It’s about the whole and taking care of your people to help them succeed. It’s important to always be thinking two, three, four steps ahead,” said Travis.

The rank of chief petty officer as it is recognized today was officially established April 1, 1893. The chief petty officer is responsible for three facets of leadership relative to the personnel placed in their care: effective discipline, effective supervision of the work performed, and finally, to act as an advocate for their Sailors’ best interests.

It’s a sense of pride and I am very humble I was selected to carry and pass to others the Navy’s great traditions,” said Valentin Vega. “Even though I don’t know everything, it pushes me to get better every day for the well-being of my junior Sailors and junior officers.

“The pinnacle of an enlisted Sailor’s career is to be promoted to chief petty officer,” said Travis. “The chief petty officer is the subject matter expert of their rating, the conduit between the junior enlisted and the officers. The chief’s job is to train, both above and below. Attributes and qualities that embody a quality chief petty officer include humbleness, dependability, trustworthy and passion about the Navy and its mission.”

Camp Lemonnier is one of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, installations that conducts eight lines of operation to support air operations, port operations, safety, security, housing, MWR, Fleet and Family Support and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases operating.